Joshua 22

• 1. Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
• 2. He told them, "You have done as Moses, the servant of the LORD, commanded you, and you have obeyed every order I have given you.
• 3. You have not deserted the other tribes, even though the campaign has lasted for such a long time. You have been careful to obey the commands of the LORD your God up to the present day.
• 4. And now the LORD your God has given the other tribes rest, as he promised them. So go home now to the land Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave you on the east side of the Jordan River.
• 5. But be very careful to obey all the commands and the law that Moses gave to you. Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, be faithful to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
• 6. So Joshua blessed them and sent them home.
• 7. Now Moses had given the land of Bashan to the half-tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan. The other half of the tribe was given land west of the Jordan. As Joshua sent them away, he blessed them
• 8. and said, "Share with your relatives back home the great wealth you have taken from your enemies. Share with them your large herds of cattle, your silver and gold, your bronze and iron, and your clothing."
• 9. So the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the rest of Israel at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. They started the journey back to their own land of Gilead, the territory that belonged to them according to the LORD's command through Moses.
• 10. But while they were still in Canaan, before they crossed the Jordan River, Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built a very large altar near the Jordan River at a place called Geliloth.
• 11. When the rest of Israel heard they had built the altar at Geliloth west of the Jordan River, in the land of Canaan,
• 12. the whole assembly gathered at Shiloh and prepared to go to war against their brother tribes.
• 13. First, however, they sent a delegation led by Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest. They crossed the river to talk with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
• 14. In this delegation were ten high officials of Israel, one from each of the ten tribes, and each a leader within the family divisions of Israel.
• 15. When they arrived in the land of Gilead, they said to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,
• 16. "The whole community of the LORD demands to know why you are betraying the God of Israel. How could you turn away from the LORD and build an altar in rebellion against him?
• 17. Was our sin at Peor not enough? We are not yet fully cleansed of it, even after the plague that struck the entire assembly of the LORD.
• 18. And yet today you are turning away from following the LORD. If you rebel against the LORD today, he will be angry with all of us tomorrow.
• 19. If you need the altar because your land is defiled, then join us on our side of the river, where the LORD lives among us in his Tabernacle, and we will share our land with you. But do not rebel against the LORD or draw us into your rebellion by building another altar for yourselves. There is only one true altar of the LORD our God.
• 20. Didn't God punish all the people of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the LORD? He was not the only one who died because of that sin."
• 21. Then the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered these high officials:
• 22. "The LORD alone is God! The LORD alone is God! We have not built the altar in rebellion against the LORD. If we have done so, do not spare our lives this day. But the LORD knows, and let all Israel know, too,
• 23. that we have not built an altar for ourselves to turn away from the LORD. Nor will we use it for our burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings. If we have built it for this purpose, may the LORD himself punish us.
• 24. "We have built this altar because we fear that in the future your descendants will say to ours, `What right do you have to worship the LORD, the God of Israel?
• 25. The LORD has placed the Jordan River as a barrier between our people and your people. You have no claim to the LORD.' And your descendants may make our descendants stop worshiping the LORD.
• 26. So we decided to build the altar, not for burnt sacrifices,
• 27. but as a memorial. It will remind our descendants and your descendants that we, too, have the right to worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings. Then your descendants will not be able to say to ours, `You have no claim to the LORD.'
• 28. If they say this, our descendants can reply, `Look at this copy of the LORD's altar that our ancestors made. It is not for burnt offerings or sacrifices; it is a reminder of the relationship both of us have with the LORD.'
• 29. Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD or turn away from him by building our own altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices. Only the altar of the LORD our God that stands in front of the Tabernacle may be used for that purpose."
• 30. When Phinehas the priest and the high officials heard this from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they were satisfied.
• 31. Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, replied to them, "Today we know the LORD is among us because you have not sinned against the LORD as we thought. Instead, you have rescued Israel from being destroyed by the LORD."
• 32. Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the ten high officials left the tribes of Reuben and Gad in Gilead and returned to the land of Canaan to tell the Israelites what had happened.
• 33. And all the Israelites were satisfied and praised God and spoke no more of war against Reuben and Gad.
• 34. The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar "Witness," for they said, "It is a witness between us and them that the LORD is our God, too."

Acts 2

• 1. On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus' resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place.
• 2. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting.
• 3. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.
• 4. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
• 5. Godly Jews from many nations were living in Jerusalem at that time.
• 6. When they heard this sound, they came running to see what it was all about, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
• 7. They were beside themselves with wonder. "How can this be?" they exclaimed. "These people are all from Galilee,
• 8. and yet we hear them speaking the languages of the lands where we were born!
• 9. Here we are--Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia,
• 10. Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya toward Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism),
• 11. Cretans, and Arabians. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!"
• 12. They stood there amazed and perplexed. "What can this mean?" they asked each other.
• 13. But others in the crowd were mocking. "They're drunk, that's all!" they said.
• 14. Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, "Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.
• 15. Some of you are saying these people are drunk. It isn't true! It's much too early for that. People don't get drunk by nine o'clock in the morning.
• 16. No, what you see this morning was predicted centuries ago by the prophet Joel:
• 17. 'In the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
• 18. In those days I will pour out my Spirit upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy.
• 19. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below--blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
• 20. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon will turn bloodred, before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
• 21. And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
• 22. "People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing wonderful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.
• 23. But you followed God's prearranged plan. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to the cross and murdered him.
• 24. However, God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life again, for death could not keep him in its grip.
• 25. King David said this about him: 'I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
• 26. No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts his praises! My body rests in hope.
• 27. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
• 28. You have shown me the way of life, and you will give me wonderful joy in your presence.'
• 29. "Dear brothers, think about this! David wasn't referring to himself when he spoke these words I have quoted, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us.
• 30. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David's own descendants would sit on David's throne as the Messiah.
• 31. David was looking into the future and predicting the Messiah's resurrection. He was saying that the Messiah would not be left among the dead and that his body would not rot in the grave.
• 32. "This prophecy was speaking of Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, and we all are witnesses of this.
• 33. Now he sits on the throne of highest honor in heaven, at God's right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.
• 34. For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, 'The LORD said to my Lord, Sit in honor at my right hand
• 35. until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.'
• 36. So let it be clearly known by everyone in Israel that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified to be both Lord and Messiah!"
• 37. Peter's words convicted them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"
• 38. Peter replied, "Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• 39. This promise is to you and to your children, and even to the Gentiles--all who have been called by the Lord our God."
• 40. Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this generation that has gone astray!"
• 41. Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church--about three thousand in all.
• 42. They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer.
• 43. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
• 44. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had.
• 45. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need.
• 46. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity--
• 47. all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

Jeremiah 11

• 1. The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said,
• 2. "Remind the people of Judah and Jerusalem about the terms of their covenant with me.
• 3. Say to them, `This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is anyone who does not obey the terms of my covenant!
• 4. For I said to your ancestors when I brought them out of slavery in Egypt, "If you obey me and do whatever I command you, then you will be my people, and I will be your God."
• 5. I said this so I could keep my promise to your ancestors to give you a land flowing with milk and honey--the land you live in today.'" Then I replied, "So be it, LORD!"
• 6. Then the LORD said, "Broadcast this message in the streets of Jerusalem. Go from town to town throughout the land and say, `Remember the covenant your ancestors made, and do everything they promised.
• 7. For I solemnly warned your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, repeating over and over again to this day: "Obey me!"
• 8. But your ancestors did not pay any attention; they would not even listen. Instead, they stubbornly followed their own evil desires. And because they refused to obey, I brought upon them all the curses described in our covenant.'"
• 9. Again the LORD spoke to me and said, "I have discovered a conspiracy against me among the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
• 10. They have returned to the sins of their forefathers. They have refused to listen to me and are worshiping idols. Israel and Judah have both broken the covenant I made with their ancestors.
• 11. Therefore, says the LORD, I am going to bring calamity upon them, and they will not escape. Though they beg for mercy, I will not listen to their cries.
• 12. Then the people of Judah and Jerusalem will pray to their idols and offer incense before them. But the idols will not save them when disaster strikes!
• 13. Look now, people of Judah, you have as many gods as there are cities and towns. Your altars of shame--altars for burning incense to your god Baal--are along every street in Jerusalem.
• 14. "Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, for I will not listen to them when they cry out to me in distress.
• 15. What right do my beloved people have to come to my Temple, where they have done so many immoral things? Can their sacrifices avert their destruction? They actually rejoice in doing evil!
• 16. "I, the LORD, once called them a thriving olive tree, beautiful to see and full of good fruit. But now I have sent the fury of their enemies to burn them with fire, leaving them charred and broken.
• 17. I, the LORD Almighty, who planted this olive tree, have ordered it destroyed. For the people of Israel and Judah have done evil, provoking my anger by offering incense to Baal."
• 18. Then the LORD told me about the plots my enemies were making against me.
• 19. I had been as unaware as a lamb on the way to its slaughter. I had no idea that they were planning to kill me! "Let's destroy this man and all his words," they said. "Let's kill him, so his name will be forgotten forever."
• 20. O LORD Almighty, you are just, and you examine the deepest thoughts of hearts and minds. Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you.
• 21. The men of Anathoth wanted me dead. They said they would kill me if I did not stop speaking in the LORD's name.
• 22. So this is what the LORD Almighty says about them: "I will punish them! Their young men will die in battle, and their little boys and girls will starve.
• 23. Not one of these plotters from Anathoth will survive, for I will bring disaster upon them when their time of punishment comes."

New Living Translation: 196 of 365 days.